A pocket headphone amp plugs straight into your guitar’s output jack, no separate amp, speaker or cable needed. You get amp modelling and headphone output in something the size of a car key fob, for quiet practice anywhere. This guide covers the three genuinely different ones worth buying in the UK right now.
These sit alongside, not instead of, the wider amp options in our complete travel guitar amps buying guide and our best amps under £100 guide, both of which cover amps with real speakers rather than headphone-only units.
Quick comparison
| Amp | Best for | From around |
|---|---|---|
| Vox amPlug 3 AC30 | Cheapest, simplest option | £39.99 |
| Fender Mustang Micro Plus | Most amp models and effects | £109.99 |
| Boss Katana:GO | Tuner, Bluetooth and a display built in | £109.99 |
Our take: the Vox amPlug 3 AC30 is the one to start with, it is a third of the price of the other two and still gives you a genuinely usable practice tone. Step up to the Fender Mustang Micro Plus or Boss Katana:GO if you want more amp models, effects and on-board extras like a tuner or Bluetooth.
Vox amPlug 3 AC30
The amPlug 3 is Vox’s third generation of plug-in headphone amp, modelled on their own AC30 valve amp tone. It clips onto the guitar’s output jack, runs on two AAA batteries, and has an aux input for playing along to backing tracks. It is the simplest and cheapest way into this category, with no screen and no presets to manage, just a guitar-shaped amp tone through headphones.
Check the Vox amPlug 3 AC30 price at Andertons
Fender Mustang Micro Plus
The Mustang Micro Plus carries over Fender’s own Mustang amp modelling, with multiple amp voices and effects rather than the single fixed tone of the Vox. It supports USB-C audio for recording straight into a laptop or phone, which the Vox and Boss do not offer in the same way. It costs close to three times the Vox, and that price buys genuine tone-shaping range rather than a single amp voice.
Check the Fender Mustang Micro Plus price at Andertons
Boss Katana:GO
The Katana:GO was briefly discontinued in 2024 before Boss brought a second-generation version back, and it has returned to Andertons’ shelves now. It carries over Katana amp tones, Bluetooth for backing tracks, a built-in tuner and a small onboard display, aimed at players who want more on-board features rather than the simplest possible unit. If you have read elsewhere that it was discontinued, that was true for a while, it has since returned.
Check the Boss Katana:GO price at Andertons
Is a pocket headphone amp enough on its own?
For quiet, anywhere practice, yes. None of these three replace a real amp or a clip-on speaker if you want to be heard by someone else in the room, or play at a volume you can feel. If that matters more to you, the amps buying guide covers amps with an actual speaker built in.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pocket headphone amp?
A small amp that plugs directly into a guitar’s output jack and sends sound to headphones, with no separate amp body, speaker or cable needed.
Which pocket headphone amp should I buy?
The Vox amPlug 3 AC30 if price matters most, or the Fender Mustang Micro Plus or Boss Katana:GO if you want more amp models and on-board features.
Is the Boss Katana:GO still available?
Yes. It was discontinued for part of 2024, but Boss brought a second-generation version back that UK retailers are stocking again.
Do pocket headphone amps need batteries?
The Vox amPlug 3 runs on two AAA batteries. The Fender Mustang Micro Plus and Boss Katana:GO use rechargeable batteries.
Can I record from a pocket headphone amp?
The Fender Mustang Micro Plus supports USB-C audio output for recording into a laptop or phone, which the other two do not offer in the same way.
